FAA Pilot Certificates & Ratings
Costs & Time Considerations
The entry-level pilot certificate for aviation
careers requires a minimum of 40 hours flying
time, with a minimum of 20 of those hours dual
and 10 hours solo (FAR Part 61). However, the
national average is closer to 75 hours, and an
industrious Mt SAC student can expect to spend
at least 50 hours in attainment of the Private
Pilot Certificate. The 10 hours of solo time
is somewhat realistic, but the dual flight hours
normally far exceeds 20 hours, considering the
unique nature of flight within the Los Angeles
basin. We fly in an airspace region that requires
some additional training and occasional air traffic
control delays even during initial training.
Taking all costs into consideration, including
those of medical certificates, flight test examiner
fees, and the expected cost of the additional
dual flight instruction, the minimum cost at
which a private pilot certificate can be obtained
is $5000. This projected minimum cost is based
upon 50 total flight hours (30 of which are dual)
at the Mt SAC Flight Training Association rates
of $50/hour for a Cessna 152 aircraft (wet rate)
plus $30/hour for the flight instructor.
The minimum time required for the Private Pilot
Certificate is usually about 10 months. Since
there is no problem beginning your flight training
commensurate with your initial ground school
course (AERO 23), this certificate can be obtained
in two semesters. However, cost considerations
and student schedule considerations may necessitate
that the training be spread over three full semesters.
Flying at a rate of 2 hours per week would allow
attainment of the private license in a 6 month
period. However, this is seldom realistic – personal
schedules, weather cancellations, and financial
considerations usually become a factor. There
is an advantage in taking your flight lessons
concurrently with AERO 23, since the ground school
and flight training tend to compliment each other
and speed the student's progress.
Statistics show that the Private Pilot Certificate
is obtained in the minimum number of flight hours
when individual lessons are sequenced with only
a few days between lessons. Probably an ideal
situation would involve flying three times per
week. Once again, individual considerations often
prohibit this, but it does seem to produce the
lowest total cost in the long run.
The Student Pilot Certificate (accompanied by
a Class III medical certificate) is not required
prior to first solo, so it is not a prerequisite
for your first lesson. The first solo flight
normally does not occur until at least ten hours
of dual flight instruction have been received.
The FAA computerized knowledge exam (written
exam) need not be completed until you are approaching
the date for your final flight test. Thus, there
is no fear of your flight training getting ahead
of AERO 23. The flight test cannot be scheduled
until you have passed your computerized knowledge
exam (minimum grade 70%).
The Private Pilot Certificate is the entry-level
certificate for the building of flight time towards
higher certificates and ratings. The good news
is that a private pilot can share the operating
expenses of an aircraft with passengers, so Mt
SAC students routinely utilize this as a tool
for advancing towards higher flight credentials.
Usually there are lots of other Mt SAC students
who are quick to share flight expenses with new
private pilots in mutual advancement towards
flying careers.
Military aviation does not have an entry-level
flight requirement, since the military services
train their pilots from the beginning. However,
a private pilot certificate (especially with
an instrument rating) is a great credential for
entry into the very competitive military environment.
Advanced FAA Certificates & Ratings
Instrument Rating
The first rating after attainment of the private
pilot certificate is normally the instrument rating,
typically obtained at approximately 200 hours of
total flight time – the FAA no longer
requires specific minimum total hours for this
rating). The instrument rating prerequisite includes
50 hours of pilot-in-command cross-country after
the private pilot certificate (each flight at least
50 nautical miles from point of departure) and
40 hours of instrument flight time. The most efficient
route to the instrument rating involves beginning
work on the instrument rating immediately after
receiving the private pilot certificate. Your flying
schedule after the private license should be oriented
towards the 50-hour cross-country requirement,
and considerable instrument experience can be accumulated
by utilization of a vision limiting device (an
instrument hood) with an appropriately rated safety
pilot aboard. This experience can be attained without
a flight instructor aboard during cross-country
flights, but the safety pilot must be a private
pilot (although not necessarily instrument rated).
This all takes a lot of personal discipline when
sight-seeing flights might be the preferred way
to travel, but it does provide a more efficient
route to the instrument rating.
Simulators (flight training devices) are an excellent
method of obtaining instrument experience. In
many ways, flight simulators are superior to
aircraft for instrument training, and up to 20
of the required 40 hours may be completed in
an approved simulation device (such as those
utilized in the Mt SAC program). Academically,
this is the most advanced license or rating,
since it requires considerable coordination and
mental skills at a time when the student is still
fairly low in flight experience. Under ideal
conditions, the student could obtain the private
pilot certificate during the second semester
at Mt SAC and the instrument rating by the end
of the fourth semester.
The approximate cost of the instrument rating
would be approximately $4,000, dependent upon
type of aircraft selected for the instrument
rating. Most of our students prefer to complete
their instrument rating in Mt SAC's Cessna 172
due to its cockpit instrumentation and the increased
stability of a larger aircraft for instrument
flying. These prices also assume maximum utilization
of the college's flight simulators, an innovative
method of reducing the total cost of the rating.
The same medical certificate (Class III) obtained
as a student pilot may be utilized for the instrument
rating (it is valid for a total period of three
years, under age 40). And, of course, the flight
time towards the instrument rating can also be
utilized as required flight experience towards
the Commercial Pilot Certificate.
Commercial Pilot Certificate
The minimum required hours for this license is 250
hours total time, with 50 of those hours acceptable
in a flight simulator. This flight experience can
be obtained by the end of the student's second
year of study at Mt SAC under ideal conditions.
Assuming the instrument rating is received at the
200 hour mark, the commercial pilot license could
then be obtained for an additional $4000. This
is based on most flight experience being built
in the Cessna 152, with the final 20 hours of training
in a complex airplane (the flight test must be
conducted in an airplane with retractable landing
gear such as the Piper Arrow). Only 10 hours must
be in the complex airplane, but 20 hours is probably
more typical. Required maneuvers are a simple extension
of private pilot flight skills, with many of the
private pilot requirements being repeated to higher
levels of precision. Many of our students complete
training for this certificate after transfer to
their chosen four-year university. Students attending
our college part-time require more than two years
to complete our program, so the commercial pilot
certificate is more common before Mt SAC graduation
in these instances. A Class II medical certificate
is required for the commercial operations (valid
for one year).
Flight Instructor
In the normal sequence of certificates and ratings
for pilots who select a commercial airline career,
the certificated flight instructor (CFI) is typically
the next license sought. Although the commercial
pilot certificate does allow flight for hire, it
is usually the flight instructor who first finds
work in the flying field. Even a brand new CFI
is immediately employable, since flight instructors
are in continual demand. Additionally, CFI's build
valuable pilot-in-command time whenever they are
flying with a student pilot. Thus, this certificate
is usually the key to progression within a civilian
flying career. The new CFI is building important
experience, while finally being paid to fly by
someone else. There are few career CFI's, but most
airline pilots have passed through this career
briefly en route to the jet cockpit.
There are no minimum hours for the flight instructor
certificate, but a commercial license is a prerequisite.
Normally at least 50 hours beyond the commercial
certificate is required, with some of it in a complex
airplane (once again, the flight test must be in
a retractable gear aircraft). In the process, the
student learns the details of precision flying
along with basic teaching techniques. Based on
50 hours of training (half of it in a complex airplane)
the additional cost after the commercial license
is estimated as $5000. Since a flight instructor
is a commercial pilot, a Class II medical certificate
is required. Normally, the flight instructor certificate
is not obtained until after graduation from Mt
SAC. Students with an A.S. degree in Commercial
Flight or Aviation Science who complete their flight
instructor certificate are offered an interview
for employment with our college’s flight
training program (College Aviation).
Other Advanced Ratings
Most of the remaining certificates and ratings occur
rather automatically once the flight instructor
certificate is obtained. The flight instructor
simply builds flying experience while being paid
to fly, and sometimes employers pick up part of
the costs of higher licensing. As a minimum, the
successful flight instructor will be able to self-finance
these advanced certificates and ratings. Normal
progression is to the instrument instructor rating
next, then to the multi-engine rating, and finally
the airline transport pilot certificate (requires
1500 hours). At this point the pilot has normally
attained enough hours to be hired by commuter (regional)
airlines. While serving with these regional carriers,
the pilot is building jet time, since turboprop
aircraft count as turbine aircraft flight time.
The natural route to the major airlines is then
pretty well assured.
Total time from first flight as a student pilot
to employment with a regional airline (or as a
corporate pilot) can realistically be as little
as five years total time, which might be accomplished
soon after attainment of the four-year college
degree. Success stories vary a lot in this regard,
but it is certain that this goal is fully attainable
by the dedicated aeronautics student. It is not
an easy route nor is it an inexpensive route, but
this career is far from routine. Like many other
things in life, a flying career is one of those
many goals that can only be obtained with diligence,
but the personal and financial investment provides
a lifetime payback that cannot be equaled anywhere.
Being paid to fly is a difficult dream to surpass.
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